Feast of the Holy and Glorious Great Martyr Saint Demetrios, The Myrrh-Streamer

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OCTOBER 26

life of the saint

Saint Demetrios suffered in Thessalonica during
the reign of Galerius Maximian (c. 306). He belonged to one of the
most distinguished families of the province of Macedonia and was
widely admired not only because of his noble ancestry and grace
of bearing, but also for virtue, wisdom and goodness of heart surpassing
that of his elders.

The military expertise of Saint Demetrios led
Galerius, as Caesar of the Eastern Empire, to appoint him commander
of the Roman forces in Thessaly and Proconsul for Hellas. But for
all this, Demetrios remained ever aware of the underlying realities
of life. Since faith in Christ had touched his heart, all the glory
of this world meant nothing to him, and there was nothing he preferred
to teaching and preaching the word of God.

Despite the persecution directed against Christians
by the Emperor, Saint Demetrios brought a large number of pagans
to the faith. His words convinced them because they saw in the righteousness,
peace and brotherly love that marked his life an illustration of
the truth of which he spoke.

The Emperor Maximian had just won a series of
brilliant victories over the Scythians and was on his way back to
Rome when he halted at Thessalonica to receive the acclamations
of the populace and to offer sacrifices in thanksgiving to the idols.
A number of pagans, envious of the success of the Saint, took advantage
of the Emperor's presence in the city to denounce Demetrios as a
Christian. Maximian's astonishment gave way to violent indignation
when he was told that Demetrios' was making use of his official
position to spread the faith. Demetrios was summoned and confined
in a cell, located in the basement of nearby baths.

Maximian arranged for games and gladiatorial
combats to take place in the amphitheater of the city. He had brought
with him a man of gigantic stature and Herculean strength called
Lyaios, a Vandal by origin. Such was this man's strength and skill
in single combat that no one could withstand him. There was in the
city a young Christian called Nestor, who observing the empty pride
of the Emperor in the victories of his champion, made up his mind
to show him that real power belongs to Christ alone. He ran to the
baths where Demetrios was imprisoned and asked for the protection
of his prayer in going to confront the giant. The Martyr made the
sign of the Cross on the brow and the heart of the boy, and sent
him like David before Goliath. He reached the amphitheater just
as the heralds were crying out on all sides for any who would stand
against Lyaios. Advancing towards the Emperor, Nestor threw his
tunic to the ground and shouted, "God of Demetrios, help me!"
In the first encounter, at the very moment the giant rushed upon
him, Nestor slipped aside and stabbed him to the heart with his
dagger. There was uproar and amazement at the marvel, and people
asked themselves how a mere child, relying neither on strength nor
weapons, could so suddenly have brought down the barbarian.

Rather than yield to the sign of the sovereign
power of God, the Emperor flew into a rage and ordered the immediate
arrest of Nestor and his beheading outside the city. He had heard
Nestor calling upon the God of Demetrios and, supposing the Saint
had used some kind of witchcraft, Maximian ordered his soldiers
to go and thrust Demetrios through with their lances, without trial,
in the depths of his prison cell. There were some Christians, including
Demetrios' servant Lupus, present at his martyrdom, and when the
soldiers had gone, they reverently buried the Saint's body.

It was God's will that the grace with which He
filled Saint Demetrios should remain active even after his death.
This is why He caused to flow from his body a myron with a delightful
scent, which had the property of healing all who took it as an unction,
with faith in the intercession of the Saint. Time and again, during
sixteen hundred years, Saint Demetrios has given proof of his benevolent
care for the city of Thessalonica and its inhabitants. He has defended
them from the attacks of barbarians, he has preserved them from
plague and famine, healed the sick and comforted the afflicted.

Adapted from The Synaxarion: The Lives of the
Saints of the Orthodox Church, Vol. 1, compiled by Hieromonk Makarios
of Simonos Petra and translated from the French by Christopher Hookway
(Chalkidike, Greece: Holy Convent of the Annunciation of Our Lady,
1998) pp. 481-483.

Orthodox Christian Celebration of the Feast
of SAint demetrios the myrrh-streamer

The feast and commemoration of Saint Demetrios
is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom which
is conducted on the morning of the feast and preceded by a Matins
(Orthros) service. A Great Vespers is conducted on the evening before
the day of the Feast.

Apolytikion (Third Tone)

The world has found in you a great champion in
time of peril, as you emerged the victor in routing the barbarians.
For as you brought to naught the boasts of Lyaios, imparting courage
to Nestor in the stadium, in like manner, holy one, great Martyr
Demetrios, invoke Christ God for us, that He may grant us His great
mercy.

Kontakion (Second Tone)

God, who gave you invincible power and with care
kept your city invulnerable, royally clothed the Church in purple
with the streams of your blood, for you are her strength, O Demetrios.